DESTINATIONS S VEGAS | THE US
GRAND CANYON
It’s hard to comprehend the magnitude of the Grand Canyon – stand at the rim and look down into the vast, red expanse and you won’t understand the sheer scale of its steep sides, but stand at the base and look up and you won’t get the full picture. Luckily, Five Star Grand Canyon Helicopter Tours does both, with flights departing from Boulder City, a 25-minute drive from Las Vegas, and flying through the canyon – past jagged peaks and enormous boulders – to land at Eagle Point Rim. Tours also include time to explore the Skywalk, a clear platform that juts out over the rust-red rock below (not for the faint-hearted), and transfers from Las Vegas hotels. Book it: From $369 for a four-hour tour.
5starhelicoptertours.com
top tip
Find out more about Las Vegas at
visitlasvegas.com and
lvcva.com
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Balcony pool at the Aria spa; Fly Linq Zipline; Five Star Grand Canyon Helicopter Tours PICTURES: Tory Kooyman; Caesar’s Entertainment; Benoit Linero
After a few minutes’ pedalling, I started to feel the burn and wondered how long the next 45 minutes were going to feel – but then the music started pumping, the disco lights started sending flashes of neon green and purple across the ceiling and Jarreau started singing along to Michael Jackson’s Beat It, spurring us on to move faster and faster, in unison with each other. It was my first spin class and as I lost myself in the upbeat music and constant movement, I began to see how this cult-like phenomenon is taking over the fitness world – although I knew my calves would make me pay for it the next day. For an activity that’s more of a test for mind than
body, there’s the Fly Linq Zipline, which sends riders streaking through the sky above the Linq Promenade, which adjoins The Strip. The bravest zipliners can go ‘superhero-style’ – think Superman flying with arms outstretched – but the seated option was quite enough of a thrill for me (from $35 and $25 respectively). Having been ziplining several times before, I didn’t
feel nervous at all as we zoomed up in the elevator, donned harnesses and had a short safety briefing from staff. Yet as we stepped out onto the platform, the neon lights of the Linq Promenade shining (very) far below, my stomach lurched and I felt a flutter of nerves – was this really what adrenaline rushes were made of?
travelweekly.co.uk
With my heart in my mouth, I steeled myself for take-off and then all of a sudden, I was soaring high above the late-night revellers, the bright lights of The Strip and the High Roller ahead. It might not count as a sporting activity, but it certainly got the endorphins flowing. It’s further proof that you don’t need to pick up a poker chip or take in a show to have a good time here – it’s Vegas, and anything goes. TW
TRIED & PARK MGM TESTED
Rebranded from the Monte Carlo Resort in April 2018, this mega-resort is part of the MGM empire, which also includes the Bellagio, Luxor and New York- New York. Its 2,700 rooms were given a $550 million makeover as part of the rebrand, adding a Stay Well floor where rooms incorporate little touches such as mood lighting and air purification. There’s no questioning the range of facilities, with a huge array of restaurants,
cocktail bars, coffee shops and a casino plus the Park Theater, which attracts headliners including Lady Gaga and Britney Spears, so for clients who love the buzz of Las Vegas, it will tick all the boxes. NoMad Las Vegas is a separate hotel that sits under the same roof as Park
MGM, occupying the top four floors. The 293-room hotel has a refined feel that could come straight from a New York private members’ club – expect dark wood, rich fabrics and a Tiffany glass ceiling on its casino. Book it: Rates at Park MGM start at $99 on weekdays, $149 on weekends; NoMad is from $199 per night.
parkmgm.mgmresorts.com
REVIEWED BY Katie McGonagle 12 SEPTEMBER 2019 55
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